Cramerton leaders are considering offering help to a developer who wants to build a large mixed-use community. That help would come in the form of money and 19 acres of land, according to a town official.

But all of that is still in the works.

The development, called The Villages at Cramerton Mills, has been in the works for years, but its organizers are asking for more land, as well as assistance in getting the project off the ground.

Amicus Engineering would not offer details, as negotiations are ongoing, said Nick Parker, an engineer with Amicus.

Parker would not say whether the incentives being discussed would be for the first phase of the project, which is slated for construction soon, or the second stage of the Villages.

Cramerton town commissioners discussed the proposal in closed session during a July 18 meeting.

Town Manager Michael Peoples also said talks are still in the early stages and no details are yet available.

“We discussed possible incentives for development and the possibility of a company locating in Cramerton,” Peoples said.

Town Commissioner Sam Carpenter would like to see research on the proposed incentives before making a decision.

“We want to make sure we’re being fair to the taxpayers of Cramerton and the developer,” Carpenter said.

No action was taken at the meeting last week.

Construction expected to begin soon on Phase I

Cramerton commissioners approved The Villages at Cramerton Mills in May 2010.

It would bring institutional, office and retail space, as well as housing, to Cramerton. In May, Peoples said careful planning and a rough economy stalled the project. But it’s now underway again.

According to Parker, construction could begin in late summer or early fall.

The project calls for 84,000 square feet of office and retail space and 40,000 square feet of institutional space.

There would also be a residential neighborhood in the development. Developers want to build more than 140 cottages, 60 townhomes, 40 bungalows, 220 apartments, 20 flats and 40 condos.

They’ll sell for $50,000 to $350,000, Parker estimated.

The entire community would be anchored around an institutional space that Parker is calling the research and workforce development center.

Plans call for it to house research for green building, renewable energy and sustainable communities. Those are also concepts Parker hopes to bring to life in The Villages.

“The original intent, and current intent, of the project was for it to be very forward thinking,” Parker said earlier this year. “It’ll be a sustainable community, low impact development, green building and renewable energy.”

You can reach reporter Lauren Baheri at 704-869-1842 or Twitter.com/lbaheri.